The Wise Walk Circumspectly to Convert within The Context Eph 5:1-14 Sermon Notes August 18 2019

Walk Thru The Word: Ephesians 5: 1-6  (ESV)

Be imitators of God

¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

³But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. ⁴Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Message map :  Ephesians 5: 15–21

Ephesians Session #11

“The Wise Walk Circumspectly to Convert within The Context”

• Eph 5:15– 15The Wise Walk Circumspectly to Convert within The Context
• The 3D Leader’s MRC’s for Christian America
• Eph 5:16-17 17The Foolish Lack Perspective But The Wise See The Context of God’s will
• Eph 5: 18 18The Foolish Are Filled with Wine (alcohol). The Wise Are Filled with the Spirit
• Eph 5: 19-20 the 4 Types of Christian Songs & The 4 Step Worhsip Process
• Eph 5: 20–21 20Growth Is Giving Thanks to god & submitting to one another In reverence To Christ

1. Single Sentence BOTTOM LINE:

“God sees the big picture context of what is going on in the world, and when we tap into God’s wisdom, we see it too!” 

2. OPENING LINE:

Have you considered how God wants us to walk in “The Wisdom of His Holy Spirit to see as God sees, yet it will be dimly through a glass? (1 for 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.)

 THE INTRODUCTORY TRANSITION

Eph 5: 15 encourages us to Walk Circumspectly to Convert within The Context”  Today, we’ll see how Eph 5: 15-21 illustrates several principles God has given me in 3D Leadership.

 WHAT’S MY MAIN POINT?

The Bible says in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

Eph 5: 15–21 is a discipleship call to get in touch with real wisdom by learning how to see as God sees.  3D Leadership does this as well as any system designed by humans.

 WHY DOES IT MATTER?

The only way for us to become ⁷partners with Christ and participate In ¹⁰discerning what pleases the Lord and overcoming ¹¹the unfruitful works of darkness, which ¹²though are shameful must be exposed, per Eph 5: 11 is for Christ’s Holy Spirit! to awaken, disciple and train us to see as God sees.

 Eph 5: 15 ¹⁵The Wise Way To Walk,

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, (the way we conduct our life,) not as unwise but as wise,

¹⁵Look carefully = That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert).

Conduct your life in a comprehensively around,” which intensifies 3961 /patéō, “walk”) – properly, walk around, i.e. in a complete circuit (going “full circle”).

not as unwise (unskilled, unwise, foolish because rejecting God’s leading us into His will) but as wise, (wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. Denotes primarily one who has quick and correct perceptions, hence, ‘discreet,’ ‘circumspect,’

If we are wise in our own eyes, we miss God’s wisdom —

• Matthew 11:25 (& Luke 10:21) At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; Luke 10:21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
• Romans 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

God destroys man’s wisdom —

• 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 ^19-For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” ^20-Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

The world often mistreats those who have God’s wisdom —

• Matthew 23:34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

God’s wisdom is required to know what is good —

• Romans 16:19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
• James 3: 13-17 ^13-Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ^14-But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ^15-This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ^16-For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ^17-But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ^18-And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

God is the epitome of wisdom. Christ is wisdom incarnate

• Romans 16:27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
• 1 Corinthians 1:25-30 ^25-For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ^26-For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,c not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ^27-But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ^28-God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ^29-so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ^30-And because of hime you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ^31-so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 ^18-Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ^19-For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ^20-and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Eph 5:15  Walking circumspectly

Eph. 5:15 (KJV) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Walking circumspectly means we conduct our lives by being …

• comprehensively aware of what is going on around you
• completely aware of what is going on in the “full circle”) around you
• Mentally observant from walking around to comprehend what is going on in the complete circuit (going “full circle”).

 Eph 5: 15 15 Walking Wisely To Fulfill your ministry

¹⁵Walking Wisely To Fulfill your ministry requires…

1. Understanding what must be done = the mission that Matters Most!
2. with whom it must be done = Rally the resources x
3. how it must be done, given this particular set of CIRCUMSTANCES = context

The “Context” for any operation consists of all the related background and relevant activities that took place that make up a an event, a scenario or a setting.

…not as unwise (unskilled, unwise, foolish because rejecting God’s leading us into His will) but as wise, (wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. Denotes primarily one who has quick and correct perceptions, hence, ‘discreet,’ ‘circumspect,’

Introduction To The Three-Dimensions of Leadership:  Negotiating Your Mission, Resources and Context (MRC)

The 3D MRC Elements Are:

• Mission is the reason the organization exists, and fulfilling this purpose is the reason for which employees and leaders join.
• Resources are what is available with which to accomplish the mission.
• Context is the arena, paradigm, external culture and internal operational style we must negotiate to fulfill the mission.

 Eph 5: 1-2 beloved children Relate To their Father Through Initiation, imitation & immolation,

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, (the way we conduct our life,)

¹⁵Look carefully = That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert).

Discipleship Competence

is a Factor of

“FOSA” = Faith, Observation, Submission, Achievement

FAITH = Faith, Advancing In The Heat of battle)

FAITH = Faith, Advancing In The Hope of victory)

The “Context” for any operation consists of all the related background and relevant activities that took place that make up a setting, an event or a scenario.  If a large rock is dropped off a bridge into a body of water, most people only trace the ripple effects.  3D MRC training helps us determine “who dropped the rock; why was it dropped at that particular time; who ordered the rock to drop, or was it the random event (accidental or intentional) of a loan operative; whom did the rock hit; what boats or people did its ripples impact, and how are the rock dropper and those impacted related to one another?

To get a composite of the context, one answers those questions and others and examines them for common denominators/elements.  3D MRC also teaches that “Problems only can be solved by asking the right questions.” Using processes like Toyota’s “5 Why’s” can put the hounds on the right trail that can lead to an answer.  To be an objective problem solver, however, one also must overcome the following: a) presuppositions, b) sentimental feelings for others, of whom we are fond c) loyalty to people who have been true and helpful in the past; c) past learning of wrong information that was provided to us by well-meaning, but deceived people; d) misinformation that may be provided by “controlled opposition” who are people who claim to be on our side, but who are there to misdirect the investigation away from discovering what really is going on.

Eph 5: 1-2 beloved children Relate To their Father Through Initiation, imitation & immolation,

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, (the way we conduct our life,)

¹⁵Look carefully = That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert).

Discipleship Competence is a Factor of:

“FOSA” = Faith, Observation, Submission, Achievement

FAITH = Faith, Advancing In The Heat of battle

FAITH = Faith, Advancing In The Hope of victory

The “Context” for any operation consists of all the related background and relevant activities that took place that make up a setting, an event or a scenario.  If a large rock is dropped off a bridge into a body of water, most people only trace the ripple effects.  3D MRC training helps us determine “who dropped the rock; why was it dropped at that particular time; who ordered the rock to drop, or was it the random event (accidental or intentional) of a loan operative; whom did the rock hit; what boats or people did its ripples impact, and how are the rock dropper and those impacted related to one another?

To get a composite of the context, one answers those questions and others and examines them for common denominators/elements.  3D MRC also teaches that “Problems only can be solved by asking the right questions.” Using processes like Toyota’s “5 Why’s” can put the hounds on the right trail that can lead to an answer.  To be an objective problem solver, however, one also must overcome the following: a) presuppositions, b) sentimental feelings for others, of whom we are fond c) loyalty to people who have been true and helpful in the past; c) past learning of wrong information that was provided to us by well-meaning, but deceived people; d) misinformation that may be provided by “controlled opposition” who are people who claim to be on our side, but who are there to misdirect the investigation away from discovering what really is going on. [bctt tweet=”Discipleship Success is Determined by a Daily Direction that Leads to a Desired Destination  ” username=”LibertyCF3″]

 7.MOVE TOWARD APPLICATION?

Discipleship Success is Determined by a Daily Direction that Leads to a Desired Destination  

Diagram expresses the effectiveness of MRC thinking to improve our Values & Vision .

Discipleship Competence Requires Seeing In MRC

1 ) Eph. 5:15 (KJV) thinking and walking circumspectly, broadens our perspective and increases our wisdom and effectiveness.

2) Mission Matters Most

3) RALLY  RESOURCES TO GOD’S MiSSION

4) CONVERT WITIN THE  CONTEXT!

9. WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Converting within the Context   

(Read-Learn-Lead: The Three Dimensional Leader, pgs. 275-278)

1. The Context consists of the background and related circumstances that make up the setting for an event or process. The context often includes what precedes and follows an action or series of actions, a phenomenon, a circumstance, an event or a thing.
2. The context must be fully understood and assessed to properly analyze an event, process or issue.
3. To solve problems you must know whether the context in which it occurs is simple or complex, meaning consisting of many different but interrelated or connected parts.
4. Understanding activities and events as part of a network of actions or processes is the context that clarifies meaning and helps unravel the reasons why things occur the way they do.
5. III-D leaders convert within the context of relevant variables that impact how resources should be deployed to fulfill the mission.
6. Keeping the context in focus means seeing the big/bigger  picture in which the organization operates.
7. III-D leaders convert within the context of other’s requests while not micromanaging.

The Context for Christianity  

(Read-Learn-Lead: The 3D Leader, pgs. 275-278)

Circle the letter corresponding to the items that include the “context” disciples must negotiate to walk effectively for Christ:

• The Bible — O Sola Scripture (Scripture Alone is our authority in all matters pertaining to heaven and earth.
• The Church = The Body of Christ — which we hope acts consistently within God’s Word.
• The Holy Spirit’s Guidance .
• The Government that either ignores, interferes with or intercedes to support “religious freedom — for us to live Biblically.”
• Political Environments (court decisions, sanctuary policies)
• The various cultures//countries in which the church operates.
• The way your boss/church/pastor/husband likes things done.

Eph 5: 16-17 ¹⁷The Foolish Lack Perspective But The Wise See The Context of God’s will

¹⁶making the best (most) use of the time (every opportunity), because the days are evil (heavily influenced by pain-ridden wickedness). ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish (lacking perspective due to…1. being without reason, senseless, inconsiderate, 2. being short-sighted, 3. being without perceiving the “over-all picture” needed to act prudently; 4. lacking perspective because of failure to grasp cause-and-effect relationships. 5. willful ignorance in understanding what prompts inevitable effects and consequences),

Eph 5: 16-17 ¹⁶making the best (most) use of the time =

• ESV & NIV = making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
• NLT = Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
• NAS = making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
• KJV = redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

BEST = REDEE’MING (NW 1828), participle present tense Ransoming; procuring deliverance from captivity, capture, bondage, sin, distress or liability to suffer, by the payment of an equivalent.

Strongs Concordance Redeeming =

• to buy up, ransom, to rescue from loss

but understand (1. perceive/discern by synthesizing — to pull together as one comprehensive, inter-locking whole, the facts and ideas that make up a context. 2. Understanding to synthesize means to arrive at a summary or final understanding with complete life-applications.

what the will (“the preferred-will (2307 /thélēma) of the Lord is — (to respond with complete life-applications).

Eph 5: 18 ¹⁸The Foolish Are Filled with Wine (alcohol) The Wise Are Filled with the Spirit     

¹⁸And do not get drunk (become intoxicated & controlled by) with wine, for that is debauchery, (unredeemable reckless indiscretion) but be filled (be cram filled to individual capacity) with the Spirit (with the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit) ,

• Proverbs 20: 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
• Mocker = one who laughs at you in contempt, meaning one who despises you and views or considers and treats you with meanness, vileness and worthless; disdain

Regarding Drunkenness the Bible also says .. .

• Luke 12:42-48  ⁴²And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? ⁴³Blessed is that servanti whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁵But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. ⁴⁷And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. ⁴⁸But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 ⁵or you are all childrenb of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Of debauchery the Bible also says is is …

• what can’t be saved and is completely a waste;
• spiritual wastefulness due to excessive behavior and the dire consequences it brings.

Regarding Being Filled with the Spirit the Bible shows many people being filled with the Holy Spirit.

It even shows that at different times the same person is filled again and again with the Holy Spirit.  “Filled” and “full,” occur eleven times in the first nine chapters of Acts. This is perhaps because of one of the following reasons:

1. our carnal natures cannot perpetually stay in submission to God’s Spirit
2. Gen 6:3 Yahweh said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years.”
3. Isaiah 57:16 Indicates our carnal natures could not stand the constant pressure of the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Berean Study Bible says, For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made.  The NLT says, For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made.

Eph 5: 19-20  the 4 Types of Christian Songs

¹⁹addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

From vs. 18 we see one thing the Holy Spirit does is motivate us to 19address one another in

¹⁹psalms (Scripture set to music, accompanied by sophisticated musical arrangements.)

¹⁹hymns (Doctrinally based songs that praise and extol the virtues of the triune God, manifested in the flesh in Jesus Christ)

¹⁹spiritual songs, (songs emanating from the Holy Spirit that reveal God’s virtues and character in relation to its effects on our human relationship and experiences with God through His Holy Spirit. (Such songs never contradict Scripture)

²⁰giving thanks (songs that 1. acknowledge “God’s grace works well,” for our eternal gain and His glory; 2. express “thankfulness for God’s good grace”).

 

10. HOW AM I CLOSING?

“God sees the big picture context of what is going on in the world, and when we tap into God’s wisdom, we see it too!”

When we see as God sees, we have courage to submit to God and to each other!

Eph 5: 19-20 the 4 Step Worship Process

4 Step Worship Process is a road map of songs that transition us through the courts of praise to the holy of holies:

The songs, generally …

1. a) move from fast to slow, and
2. b) through expressing these four concepts:

• courts of praise are upbeat songs of praise & thanksgiving
• Sanctuary Psalms & Hymns (that doctrinally extol the virtues of the triune God, suitable for Congregational singing.
• Altar (songs of Confession, Repentance & Pledging allegiance to God
• Holy of holies (intimate, personal songs that foster basking in God’s presence, positioning us to hear from God.)

Another way to think of the 4 steps is …

• Praise & Thanksgiving (Courts of Praise)
• Appreciation of God (Sanctuary)
• Repentance & Pledging Allegiance (Altar)
• Acknowledging His Holiness & Our Need for
• His Holy Spirit to Come and Work In Us.
• (Holy of Holies)

19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Eph 5: 20–21 ²⁰Growth Is Giving Thanks to god Always & submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ 

²⁰giving thanks (acknowledge “God’s grace works well,” for our eternal gain and His glory) always (at all times) and for everything (The emphasis is on seeing your individual circumstance in relation to the total picture of God’s saving work) to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

²¹submitting (1. to subject. 2. under God’s arrangement,” i.e. submitting to the Lord. 3. to subordinate. 4. to submit to one’s control; to yield to one’s admonition or advice) to one another out of reverence (1. fear mingled with respect and esteem. 2.  admiration of something great)

Regarding Reverence, (NW 1828) says

1. Fear mingled with respect and esteem; veneration) for Christ. 2. The fear acceptable to God, is a filial fear, an awful reverence of the divine nature, proceeding from a just esteem of his perfections, which produces in us an inclination to his service and an unwillingness to offend him.

Reverence is nearly equivalent to veneration, but expresses something less of the same emotion. It differs from awe, which is an emotion compounded of fear, dread or terror, with admiration of something great, but not necessarily implying love or affection. We feel reverence for a parent, and for an upright magistrate, but we stand in awe of a tyrant. This distinction may not always be observed.

1 Peter 3: 1-6 Fear prevents us from submitting to God and each other. One must overcome fear to submit. 

¹ Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ⁵ For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, ⁶ like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Submitting To Christ To Synthesize Mission, Vision and Values into Comprehensive Discipleship Strategy

Synthesizing = seeing as one the facts and ideas of a context as a comprehensive (inter-locking) whole

mission =

• Fulfill Christ’s Great Commission to …
• Make More & Better Disciples, who submit to one another, &
• Convert within the Context

Values =

• Determine Behaviors
• 10 Commandments
• Sermon on The Mount (& Plain)

Vision =

• What our communities and the world will be like if we are wildly successful at our mission!

Core Operational Success Dynamics COSD (“COS-Dee”)

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